Horse Power Days

Eldridge Hotel

Pro-slavery attacks burned the Eldridge Hotel to the ground twice during the years of "Bleeding Kansas." In the 1863 raid on Lawrence, Kansas, the first goal of Quantrill'

Lawrence, KS Historic Hotels

Kenneth Spencer Research Library

Designed for the preservation and use of rare materials, the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, on the University of Kansas campus, provides a home to some of the finest collections in North America. The library houses three major units:

• Kansas Collection ((785) 864-4274)
  Lawrence, KS Research Centers

Douglas County Courthouse

The Douglas County Courthouse was built of native limestone in 1904. It was saved from demolition in the 1960s when a modern courthouse was built, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently in use by the county.

Lawrence, KS Historic Courthouses

Depot and Visitors Center

During its post-Civil War rebuilding, one of Lawrence's main goals was to establish itself as the railroad hub of the Midwest. In 1882, Union Pacific spent $40,000 buying lots in North Lawrence and announced that it would build a new passenger depot. The 1889

Lawrence, KS Railroad History

Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum

The Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum has a small but rich collection of local memorabilia including exhibits on the original African-American settlements in the area, the "Border Wars" and the Underground Railroad that passed through the area.

Lawrence, KS Museums